
t"* 





Class JRMI 
Book X- : . 



CopyiightN^- 



r^ I ?- 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

By charlotte PORTER 




NEW YORK 

THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO. 

PUBLISHERS 






Copyright, 1910 
By Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. 



Published September, 19 10 



THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. 



nJ)' 



©CI. A ^71 983 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

For Poems here collected that were first printed in 
Jinslee'sy The Atlantic Monthly ^ The Century y The 
Christian Register y Lippincott^ Sy The Outlook y The 
Pathfindery and Poet-lorey thanks are rendered to the 
publishers of those magazines for the courtesy of their 
leave to reprint. 

A few of these Poems appeared under the pen-name, 
** Robert Iphys Everett." 

Five of the *' Green Bird " lyrics have been set to music 
by Helen A. Clarke; <*Bertrand*s Song'* has been set 
to music by Margaret Ruthven Lang; "The Tragic 
Rapture " has been set to music by Mabel Hill. 



[v] 



CONTENTS 

I 

ARTEMIS 

Page 

To The Red Doors 3 

The Green Bird 5 

The Call 5 

The Nest ' . . . . 6 

Nest Song 6 

The Over-Song 7 

The Under-Song 7 

Music's Shell 8 

The Voice 8 

The Everlasting 9 

The Glimpse 10 

Blessedness 10 

The Cup 10 

The '* Twin-Flower " Garden 11 

The Wildwood 11 

Sun-Force and Moon-Charm 12 

Flowing 13 

The "Rote" 14 

The Moon-Star 15 

The God's Hand 15 

The Sea-Gull i6 

[vii] 



CONTENTS 

The Green Bird — continued Page 

The Sloop 17 

The Rock Pool 18 

The Star-Sown Night 18 

The Veiled Aurora 19 

The Island at the Cliffs 20 

**Burning-ofF" of the Fog 21 

When the Goddesses Met 22 

The Burthen 23 

Moon Toil 24 

The Harvest of Rest 25 

The Waters under the Earth 27 

The Day's Nurture 28 

A Breath of Air 29 

Island Magic 31 

Self-Sufficement 32 

Earth's Artists 34 

The Beat of a Wing 36 

Those Brown Mummers 38 

Weather Wisdom 40 

The Miracle of Spring 42 

Moon Glamour 44 

Aware 46 

Daylight 47 

Airs of Spring 49 

Come! 51 

The Flower Answers 53 

The Secret of the Place 54 

Monhegan 56 

[ viii ] 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Inland 58 

Isle au Haut 60 

With Waves and Wings 62 

The Childe by the Sea 64 

II 

SELENE 

Psalm of the Red Doors 75 

Love's Banquet 77 

The Reticent Stars 80 

The Hushed Strain 82 

How Shall I My True Love Know ? . , . . 83 

Love, Help thy Liegeman ! 85 

Ikaros 87 

The Second Vintage 88 

The "Unexpressive She " 90 

Keeping Score 92 

Flitting Joy 93 

The Banners 94 

Nirvana 95 

The Way of the Wind 96 

Saturn 98 

Love's Holy Days loi 

The Christmas loi 

The Epiphany 102 

The Holy Thursday 103 

The Easter Eve 105 

[ix] 



CONTENTS 

Page 

The Order of Perpetual Adoration .... 107 

Immortality 108 

By the Sixth Sense no 

Interlude 

Epilogue Songs. Written for Browning* s ** Return 

of the Druses" 115 

Djabal's Song 115 

Anael's Song 116 

In Praise of Browning 117 

Translations 

Bertrand's Song to the Mariners. From Ros- 
tand's "La Princesse Lointaine " ... iig 
Mila's Song. From D'Annunzio's **La Figlia 

di Jorio " 121 

Prayer. From D'Annunzio's "La Nave" . 122 

III 

HECATE 

The Tragic Rapture 127 

Amulets 128 

Mastery 128 

Work Day Prayers 129 

Holy Day Prayers 130 

A Glad Little Sorry Song 131 

Cradle Song to the World-Mother — Life 132 

The Hearth Fire 134 

The Lighted Face 137 

[x] 



CONTENTS 

Page 

The Sunlit Shower 139 

In the Crowd — A Song ! 140 

Work Day Sunset Chant 142 

Chelsea 144 

Double Moments 155 

The Master-Fate 157 

The Call of Modern Tragedy 159 

Life's Rhymes. A Corona i6i 

Flux 161 

Form 163 

Growth 165 

Motive 167 

Desire 169 

Power 171 

Love 173 

Fairy Gold 175 

Lips of Music 176 

Red Doors 179 

Christmastide Benediction for The Dark of 

THE Year 183 



[xi] 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

Facing Page 

Artemis. The Rede from Callimachus 2 

La Nascita di Venere. Sandro Botticelli . . 42 

Selene. The Rede from Homeric Hymn .... 74 

Nirvana. Simeon Solomon 95 

The Vision of Love in Sleep. Simeon Solomon 108 

Hecate. The Rede from Orphic Hymn .... 126 



[ xiii ] 



ARTEMIS 



STAND FACE TO FACE • FRIEND • AND 
UNVEIL THE GRACE IN THINE EYES 

— SAPHO 



[I] 



V><ELEBRATE Artemis, for she is not 
light to minstrels to forget, Virgin Artemis, 
whom all the gods alike invite, but who is 
throned beside Apollo. . . . To her the bow 
and the wide choir and disporting on the 
mountains are a care, the mountains tressed 
with woods, toward Ocean ('T will be rare 
indeed when Artemis shall go down into a 
city), Pheraean goddess, watcher over harbors, 
companion of noble maidens, bringer of 
light ! 

Adapted from Callimachus. 



[2] 






-1: 






"^X-Vv 






■"^^fc- 







^ 



ARTEMIS. 



a 



TO THE RED DOORS 

The Lips of Whoso gives Words Life. 



UT of the red doors in high triumph 

thronging, — 
Bearing and sway, to new Ccesars belonging — 
Out of the red doors re si sties sly marchingy 
As Ccesars of Rome from carven stone arching^ 
Out of the red doors with vigor unswerving. 
Moulding the Soul to delight and deserving. 
Throbbing, thrilled through from the mouth's 

human curving, — 
Eagles of em per y, strong pinioned birds. 
True winged to their aim, come swift words, 

live words! 



[3] 



THE GREEN BIRD 
To H. A, a 

THE CALL 

XN town in May I heard the Spring's 

Soft foot fall : 
Then hushing from the heart of things. 
With flutter of returning wings, 
And her green gown's faint rustleings, 
I caught the strain her glad face brings — 
The Song of songs the great Deep sings — 

The root call. 
Oh, follow, when you hear the Spring's 

Soft foot fall. 
The Song of songs the great Deep sings — 

The root call ! 



[5] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE NEST 

X HE round warm Isle is like a nest, — 

A green bird's nest in nesting weather, 
Each fledgeling tree perks up his crest, 

And soft green down grows soft green 
feather. 



NEST SONG 

A HE green bird feeds her fledgelings well; 
Each day they fling their green plumes 
wider; 
The green bird croons a fairy spell, — 

Her wide-winged nestlings sing beside her ! 



[6] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



THE OVER-SONG 

xjlS fine leaves lilt a lighter over-lay 
Above the tone whereto the big boughs sway, 
So bird-and-bee-tunes brightly pipe and whir 
Across the Sea's profounder rhythmic stir. 

THE UNDER-SONG 

X-^EEP in the pulsing of the vast Sea's push 

The whole World round and here, 
In swell and whisper of the great Wind's rush 

Far off and then quite near, 
I hear the voice of Being, whence all tended, 
Beating the borders of the Spheres along. 

Then in my heart so strong, — 

T is mine," I cry, "or with my Spirit 
blended: 

We are Life's under-song!" 

[7] 



tcr 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



MUSIC'S SHELL 

X HE caverned Isle is Music's ancient Shell, 

Attuned of yore to sing and sob, 
Resound the tone of every thrill and throb 

Of Ocean's flowing fingers; 
The passion of her heaving bosom's swell, 

Her thunder-throe and tempest-start, 
Soothed and accorded in the Isle's deep heart, 

All harmony there lingers. 

THE VOICE 

\J DEARER than dear face we love. 

Or deep dear eyes of lover, 
O dearer than the Isle we love. 

Or bending sky above her 
Is Voice of Isle; and Voice of Love, 

For there our hearts discover 
All graces our fond eyes do love 

And Music's grace moreover! 
[8] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



THE EVERLASTING 

JL OU feel the Earth a planet here, 
She swings in airy space; 
You hear her sing — a sister sphere 
With all her sky-born race! 

The Everlasting draws quite near, 
Its World-breath flows and sighs; 

And yet you meet It with no fear: — 
Joy lives in Its wide eyes. 



[9] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE GLIMPSE 

\J ALL the sky is beautiful, 
But in one cloud-rent space 

'T is blue of blue, — ethereal, — 
The Soul from Heaven's face! 

BLESSEDNESS 

O BLESSEDNESS of feeling one 
With life of Sea and Wild, — 

To lay me down when day is done 
The Island's loved child! 

THE CUP 

\J JOY is like a magic cup, 

I lift it to the sky. 
And still the more I offer up 

The fuller joy have II 

[10] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



THE "TWIN-FLOWER" GARDEN 

1 LABORED, delving, sowing, 

To plant a garden wee 
Of seedsman's flowers for showing: 

The wild-flowers laughed at me. 
I caught the witches growing 

Around a shattered tree — 
A thousand twin-flowers meeting 

In fairy folk-mote there; 
They nodded me a greeting, — 

And fragrance filled the air: 
"We came without your weeting, 

We thrived without your care." 

THE WILDWOOD 

JL HIS garden was not sown nor planted, 
This garden no hands made, 
And yet no means were for It scanted 
Since Earth's first soil was laid. 

[II] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



SUN-FORCE AND MOON-CHARM 

X HY vital force, O golden Sun, 

Instill and bathe me! 
Thy charm, O Moon, thou Magic One, 

O'erthrill and swathe me! 
Let instant thought and impulse swift 

Empower, move me. 
Alluring grace, serene uplift 

Endower, prove me! 



[12] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



FLOWING 

Flowing! Flowing! Flowing ever! 
Charm and Beauty, Sea, like thine, is there 
never! 
Flowing! Flowing! Flowing ever! 
Hush! her white lips said, "Thy life, mortal 
blinded, — 
Flowing! Flowing! Flowing ever! — 
Charm and Beauty like mine hath, wert so 
minded." 
Flowing! Flowing! Flowing ever! 



[13] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE "ROTE" 

A HE quick impressionable Sea takes note 
Long ere the storm winds rise 
And moans along the shore the wailing rote 
No tempest may surprise. 

Like thee, O trembling Heart, she surely 

knows 
When Fate's fleet stroke must fall, 

And thrills with prescience of the muttering 

throes 

The strong soul shall forestall. 



1 14] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



THE MOON-STAR 

\J THE Moon is entangled and caught in 
a cloud, 
And the frowning cloud jeers: "There you 
are!'' 
But the Moon makes a glory of rose of her 
shroud, 
And peers out a new way, — like a Star! 



THE GOD'S HAND 

JL SAW the hand of great Poseidon grasp 
The iron coast, — a wave-washed, weed- 
swirled rock 

Shaped like a hand: 
Now, ever in the full tide's grip and shock 
I feel the god's compulsive clutch and clasp 
Moulding the land. 

[15] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE SEA-GULL 

O WHITE WINGS — O White Wings 

Far over waves and tossing seas, 

High above hills and swaying trees 

The Sea-gull flings 

Her wide white wings : — 

O bright and light — 

A foam-fleck's sprite — 

A curled cloud's flight! 

The wind's true arrow, 

As straight and narrow! 

The spring tide's pull, 

As firm and full! 

Only desire within me flows 

As firm and free, as lightly goes, 
O White Wings ! O White Wings ! 



[i6] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



THE SLOOP 

Vj GIVE the slim-keeled moon 
The gull's wide wing! 

So let the boat be hewn! 
So let her white sail spring! 

So shall the waves be drawn 

To close her round and fawn, 
All mad for her, 

The while her spread wings spur 

The comrade wind along. 

Yet she — the Water's lure — 

Lean over them secure, 

And moon-like, mild and sure. 

Her course keep calm and strong. 



[17] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE ROCK POOL 

JjENEATH the siren sea who dares to peer 
And know the magic of her very face? 

But in the rock pool for her lovers dear 
She leaves her likeness in a locket's space. 

Within that limpid lens her lovers read 
By iridescent, shifting, gleaming traces 

Of tiny tentacle and wavy weed, 
The sorceries of her Medusa graces. 



THE STAR-SOWN NIGHT 

A HE stars from Heav'n seem falling 
tow'rd the Isle, 
Thick-sown and poised mid-air — 
World-seeds the Sower's hand impels, the 
while 
They quick in flower flare! 

[i8I 



THE GREEN BIRD 
THE VEILED AURORA 

Earth-wraiths bewitch and biur the 

Sky's pure face, 
Yet cannot mask her soul; 
The spreading haze but dims the Moon's 

clear grace, 
Her beams transfuse the whole. 

Then streaming up the pinnacles of Space, 

Auroral light-waves roll, 
High Heaven's bended head they overlace 

With shimmering aureole. 

Above the reek, like Earth's good Angel there 

Abode the spectral white; 
The lower air but hid the vigil fair 

That blessed the sudden sight. 

Pierce, pierce! thou vision of the upper air. 

Alive in spirit-light, 
Hold me, unbaffled in thy presence rare 

By phantoms of Earth's night! 
[19] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE ISLAND AT THE CLIFFS 

JiLLSEWHERE as here she hath beauty and 
charm, 
Elsewhere hath gramarye sylvan, 
Elsewhere her Heart she uplifts pure and 
warm; 
Here she exalteth her Spirit. 

Elsewhere as here her grave lover the Sea 
Greets her with music and magic; 

Here, they meet holily, bowing the knee, 
Feeling the Infinite, — near It! 



[20] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



"BURNING-OFF" OF THE FOG 

J. SAW the wayward, moody Island breathe 
Out filmy breath, like hopeless gray clouds 

drifting, 
I saw the hopeless clouds flare forth and 

wreathe 
Out sudden airy-shapen trumpets, lifting 
Their windy lips to blow against the sun, 
And far to sea, a rosy music won 
From melancholy mastered: for my ear 
Too fine the lauds my list'ning soul can hear, 
But my rejoicing eyes their might behold — 
The numbing, muffling, mourning mist up- 
rolled. 
Vanquished is all faint-heartedness and dolor 
By clear exultant clang of conquering color! 



[21] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



WHEN THE GODDESSES MET 

iVlY Angel surely called me from the deep 

Of disembodied sleep, 
And so the Soul within mine eyes arose 

From her pure, still repose, 
And faced as one forevermore new born 

The marvel of that Morn: — 
Between Night's hushing, violetted dream 

And Dawn's first clarion beam, 
Enwoven round in rosy, streaming wings, 

Apollo, waiting, flings. 
Dissolving Hecate's mystic glancing horn 

With Aphrodite borne. 
Burning in joy together, onward sweep 

In splendor up the steep. 



[22] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



THE BURTHEN 

i^EEP me in tune with all the powers that 
work, 
And sing the World's good will! 
Let beat of flood and ebb, sunshine or murk 

My day's deeds spur and thrill, — 
Grave joys, that in the World-song's burthen 
lurk. 
My steadfast Soul's song fill! 



[23] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



MOON TOIL 

kJ a thousand clouding troubles 

Shall you, like the Moon, pace through: 
When the old throng is surmounted, 

Like her, shall you front the new 
Circling thicker to impede you. 

So she, steadfast, steering true, 
Kept undaunted on her circuit. 

Climbing Heaven, cloaked from view, 
Trackless in great wastes of splendor, 

While Night's imps about her drew, — 
Flitting wraiths, grotesque chimseras, 

Malice-multiplied that grew: — 
Drifting, dreary. Earth-mist monsters — 

Needed they her Heav'n to strew, — 
Scudding over luring pureness, 

Smirching what must them subdue? 
Yes; to purge Air, Earth enhallow 

When she triumphs in the blue! 

[24] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



THE HARVEST OF REST 

X HE fog, the gray sun overswept 
And shut in daylight ever thicker, 
The night, the fog then overcrept, 
Nor let one starry eyelid flicker. 

The silence even fell asleep 

In Night's withdrawnmost dreamy dwell- 
ing, 
So Rest might Being's forces steep, 

And quicken to supremer telling 

The joys of Life, that but to reap 

The vasts of Quiet lay there darkling; 

Till strong with slumber from the Deep 
Dawn rose on dazzled wide seas sparkling: 

[25] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

The shining Forest flashed awake, 

His goodly green boughs gladly swinging; 

Life's Joy in all things moved and spake, 
And sprang within me — seeing, singing! 

O Rest and Quiet golden harvests make! — 
Rich gifts on souls reserved the gray gods 
shake! 



[26] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



THE 
WATERS UNDER THE EARTH 

X HE veins of Earth with ichor flow — 

The calm clear blood of gods : 
The crystal silver to and fro 

Beneath the passive purblind clay 

And heavy-lidded sods, 
Diviningly feels out the way 
And animates the sudden sway 
Of life within each embryo. 

With tendril-slender flowing force 

The drowsing germens stir 
And tides of Being swell and course 

Self-sure in each as kind must move, * 
Nor ever can it err; 

No growth but shall fruition prove. 
No change but shall the traits behove 
The Waters christened from their Source. 

[27] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE DAY'S NURTURE 

\J DRINK the purling dawn, my Soul, 
drink deep! 
Devour the mellow day's maturing fruit; 
Let gladness in thee like the Sun's fount leap, 
And ripeness crown thee, from that living 
root! 



[28] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



A BREATH OF AIR 

WiND-WINNOWED air, storm-pure! — 

But with the Sea's salt drive, 

The Fir-wood's breath, alive! 
Caught up within thy lure, 
Earth's attar thou dost hold, — 

The very soul of things 

Soars on thy vagrant wings, 
Rests in thy fragrant fold! 

O catch thou up, and lift 

The fire the body burns, 

When breath as incense yearns 
Far on thine upward drift! 
Winnow the Wind of Will! 

Lift it past bound and range 

Of drag, or check or change, ^ 

The Spirit's reach to fill! — 

[29] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

So Earth-forgetting Isles 

Far, Sea-allured sail, 

Till in Heav'n's blue they pale, 
And Light enraptur'd smiles. 
Where boundless air beguiles, 

The moor'd Worlds sing and spin; 

Breath-wafted Spirit! win 
Where Soul all-reconciles. 



[30] 



THE GREEN BIRD 



ISLAND MAGIC 

wTxPART from din of cities, stir of men, 

The pure bright summer through, 
I leave the singing surf-wreathed Isle, and 
then, — 

I am an Island, too! 
I feel the Sea's arms clasping me around, 

I hear song learned of her. 
Apart, although within the City's bound, 

And safe from din and stir. 



[31] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



SELF-SUFFICEMENT 

While the Day was preparing her 
splendor, I slept; 
I was housed while the storm-bow was plot- 
ting the spring of his arc. 
Did I see the night-primrose in smith-work 
adept 
Forge her beads, bleeding gold, chaining 
anthers to stigma, ere dark? 
I peered close, yet the magic she wrought 
Still my eyes never caught. 

For no marking of mine, for no wages or 

show 
Was Earth moved from her stealth of devising 

the beauty of life! 
Well sufficed her the passion for making^ 

aglow 

[ 32 ] 



SELF-SUFFICEMENT 

At each sway of her finger-tips, wilUng the 
strife 
Of the Artist with matter: — pure fire! 
Light in me, like desire! 

^' I exult in the proud self-sufficement of 

Earth, 
In the recklessly reticent craft-work of mid- 
night and morn. 
In the sculpturing urge of the sea, in mere 
mirth 
Spending rapture on islets unheeding, un- 
peopled, forlorn; — 
Let me follow my soul's best behoof. 
As self-sure, as aloof! 



[33] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



EARTH'S ARTISTS 

A PAINTER Autumn is, whose brush 
Shows earth's hot heart in each cool rush, 
Each bush flames underfoot, each tree — 
A tossing torch — flares high and free, 
Each plant would all a flower be. 

A Sculptor Winter is: his hand 
With icy chisel carves the land; 
He bares earth's pureness to the light, 
His keen strokes shape with rigor right 
The sudden goddess, hushed and white. 

Earth listens: her Musician, Spring, 
Afar, and timid, thrills his string: 
The goddess melts, — a girl descends; 
Those stars — her eyes, on his she bends, 
And deathless hope his luting lends. 

[34] 



EARTH'S ARTISTS 

But when the girl a woman turns, 
Within her soul all music burns; 
Her Poet, Summer, sings the word 
Her spirit had but inly heard, 
And life to know Life's joy is stirred. 



[35] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE BEAT OF A WING 

KJN and on! hurling through 

Fainting spaces of tranquil blue, 
I beheld in the Vast, remote and high. 

Soaring lonely, a strong bird fly. 

Oh, the sight was a song. 

Only no words belong 

To a call of the spheres; 

Only eyes waken ears 

To a song the gaze hears. 

Who will witness it? You! 
Heed the hushing song, — see the singing 
sight 

Of a lonely bird's flight 

Through the sky's silent arc! 
Lo! with strain of the eff"ort the wings shrink 

dark, 

[36] 



THE BEAT OF A WING 

With the beat of each motive they droop, drop 

stark, 
Of the glory bereft, the color, light. 

While they pulse the most might, 
Living buds of winged flower 
Urging on the ripe hour! 
Ah! the bloom of the effort now opens them 

bright! 
See, oh, see! Beat of motive now blossoms 

them white, 
And the feathery petals fling wide rays 

From the heaven-lit ways 
To the founts of desire in the solar blaze! 



t37] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THOSE BROWN MUMMERS 

I SUSPECT the rocks of feeling: 
See those mummers by the shore! 

Yes; they practise double-dealing, 
Those brown mummers by the shore. 

Oh, I watched them while they waited, — 
While the tide was round them wheeling, — 

For the wave to wash them o'er, — 
Flash its cool, wet, dripping fingers, 
With the touch that slips and lingers, 

Through their sea-weed beards all lank, 
Drooping down their stolid chins, — 

Though they seemed to stare all blank, — 
Stricken stony for their sins, — 
Yet with yearning were they kneeling, 

Praying Love with hearts unsated, 

Craving Life forever more! 

[38] 



THOSE BROWN MUMMERS 

And, when all the tide was reeling 
Passionate on them, then, I saw 

How their beards wagged, how they 

laughed. 
Great draughts of uncaution quaffed, 
And were glad to be unstable, 
All unmoored and all unable 
To pretend the fixed is law! 

I suspect the rocks of feeling 

All Life's unrest to the core, 
I suspect of double-dealing 

Those brown mummers by the shore. 



[39] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



WEATHER WISDOM 

UEAR Earth! how lovable thou art to-day! 

How dreamily, yet warily aware, 
Beneath the magic of thy hand's warm sway, 
The pliant waters shimmeringly play 

All round the sun-kissed strand! 
But this thy hand was feverish yesterday, 

And heavily oppressed the sea to bear 
Its heat, while with a grasp of brass it lay 
On winds too faint to thrust the spell away. 

And heal the sun-pierced land. 

And angry was thy grip the day before. 
When all the wild winds, warring with the 
Sea, 
No truce obeyed nor cruelty forbore. 
Yet, Earth ! what fault soe'er of aught day 
more 
Could mar thy flowing plan? 
[40I 



WEATHER WISDOM 

The fierce days wrest, as prize, the days most 
rare 
From thy large clasp; In warmth hatched 
stealthily, 
A brood of rude days rise from days most fair. 
Oh, who from all thy moods finds one to spare 
Nor mar thy flowing plan! 



[ '41 I 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE MIRACLE OF SPRING 

X HE laughing little waves Love's will out- 
ran: — 
Could any steeds less subtle race so well 
As these curved sea-lips kissing round 
Love's shell? 
Her flying cherubs, fleeting as they can, 
With pufling cheeks may only steer and fan 
The secret breezes that unseen impel 
Her shallop on, and they but heed the spell 
That stings her heart for Earth — dear home 
of man. 

O quicken new the miracle of Spring! 

Ride, Love, all glowing from thy far sea- 
home! 
Rise, Earth, to clasp her in thine arms 
and thrill 

[ 42 ] 



MIRACLE OF SPRING 

With breeze-born touches, buds of splrit- 
wing! 
Then let thy breast enfold Love's fire and 
foam, 
Thy living vesture, Love's bared beauty 
fill! 



[43] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



MOON GLAMOUR 

XS this the land we knew day after day? 
Can this be common grass earth- rooted fast? 

Or this, the well-defined familiar bay, 
Whose every isle and cove the chart had cast 
With reckoning marked where land-locked 
channels passed? 
No, this for all the worlds is water-way 
Through dreamed-of realms where death- 
less elves hold sway; 
No eye descries them, only ears that listen 
Catch the light laugh afloat past leaves that 
glisten. 

The Soul once loved this wonder, long ago, 
Shared converse with these elves no eye hath 

seen, 
Winged wide free flight where these strange 

sea-ways flow, 

[44] 



MOON GLAMOUR 

Divining what the wistful waves would mean, 
When down to them the faint stars seem to 

lean; 
Ay! This ecstatic light where swooneth 

Space 
In poured-forth rapture brimmed to 

Heaven's face 
Is the Soul's gaze transfiguring with glamour 
This frame of Earth whose soul doth Soul 

enamour. 



[45] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



AWARE 

JL^ONG moonlit nights I watched, to slowly 
taste 
How perfect minutes in each minute melt. 
And now, long moonlit nights in sleep I waste; 
Yet all my dreams their flowing calm have 
felt 
Soothing the passion, silvering the rose 
Of life that still through darkened eyelids 
glows. 

Quiet serene! still hold me, — heed my 

prayer; — 
Ye kept my nights awake, keep them aware! 
Let conscious bliss my resting spirit bathe, 
And consecration white my whole soul 

swathe ! 

[46] 



DAYLIGHT 

And God said J ''Let there he light!" 

xLVERY day the river dreams, 

Muddy ebb and all. 
Every day the city gleams 

Through the smoky pall. 
Every day my light within 
Laughs at little human sin, 
Smooths the darkened brow 
With its glad "How now!" 
Sin and smoke and turbid streams 
Glow, embraced in sudden beams, 
Lifted, lighted, shining-shod. 
In the footing light hath trod, 
Freed from any thrall. 
Love! thy light thus crowns a soul 

[47] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Till the flaws enhance the whole 

And the spirit laud; 
All the faults ye would destroy 
Glister, melt in light, in joy, 

Of the ray from God ! 



[48] 



AIRS OF SPRING 

wTjLIRS of Spring! 

Sway and swing, 

Free and fling 
The scarce unfurled green banners of the 
trees ! 

Playful breeze! 

Toss and tease, 

Loose and seize 
The curling plumed white pennons of the 

clouds 
Now straying, and now scampering in crowds 

Across the blue, 

Alive with you, 

Airs of Spring! 

Airs of Spring! 
Stir and sting. 
Will and wing 

[49] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Out to the light all joys in man that flow 

Ere he know, 

Longings slow, 

Fires that glow 
And blossom suddenly in deeds of flame. 
Sure of their right to be, sure of their aim; 

Man's might make new, 

More live than you, 

Airs of Spring! 



[50] 



COME 

O COME out in the Open 

Between the Earth and Sun! 
For Life hath called and holpen 

The buried flowers each one 
To burst their old year's leafage — 

Their grave-clods dull and dead, 
And climbing through the cleavage 

To lift each fairy head. 

Could necks so frail, so tender, 

Such bodies soft and small, 
Through hard ground rise so slender? 

'T is all a marvel, — all! — 
Unless the Spirit in them. 

Bolder than bodies are, 
Doth hearten them and win them 

To greet the great Day-star; 

[51] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Unless Desire below them 

In Earth's deep breast of love 
Pour through and overflow them 

To meet the love above. 
O come out in the Open, 

Ye human flowers each one! — 
To grace and force be holpen, — 

Re-born twixt Earth and Sun! 



[52] 



THE FLOWER ANSWERS 

The Man speaks: — 

J_^ITTLE Flower, art thou lonely, — 
Hand to pluck awaiting, Dear? 

Spending life in craving only. 
Lacking guest to reap thy cheer? 

The Flower answers: — 

Little lordling, ye hear dully 

My voice chord with all Life's song: 

Need I greedy hand to cull me 
Who to Mankind's God belong? 



1 53] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE SECRET OF THE PLACE 

/x LITTLE path winds saunt'ring to our 
door, 
All through the clover; 
Sea touches soothe your cheek and kiss your 
brow, 
As you come over. 
The Sea and Earth embraced catch you up, 

too; 
Here they love each other. Here how they 
love — You ! 
And all day long 
A little bird's song 
Interprets you the secret of the place: 
"OA/ but life is sweet, sweet! 
Life is sweet! Sweet! ^^ 

[54] 



SECRET OF THE PLACE 

The Sea is like a tossing daisy-field, 

Darkling and whit'ning; 
The daisy-field 's a sun-flecked sea of foam, 

Threatening and bright'ning. 
All diff'rences there are beneath the sun, 
How they melt in music! How they here are 
— One! 

Where all day long 

A little bird's song 
Interprets you the secret of the place: 

''Oh! but life is sweet, sweet! 

Life is sweet! Sweet! 'l 



[55] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



MONHEGAN 

J\. LONELY land, fantastic, sphinxish, 
Full of freshness, full of fire. 
All day long the hot sun woos It, 
Kissing pallid flaunting grasses, 
Thrilling ruddy tiny prickles 
Armoring sun-dew in its marshes, — ' 
In its still deep-bosomed marshes. 
All night long the witch-moon soothes it, 
With white-handed gentle gestures, 
Lulling it to half awake it 
So it keep its passionate calm. 
All the days long, all the nights long, 
Lovingly the laughing ocean 
Round it flings his happy arms — 
Arms that loosen in contentment — 
Arms that clasp with fresh allurement — 

[56] 



MONHEGAN 

Arms delirious with pleasure, 
Keeping yet a comrade's touch; 
While the wild glad land refrains not 
From response as free and flowing, 
Daring love, and love withholding. 
Ever his, while still her own! 



I 57] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



INLAND 

JVlY happy eyes have seen 
The Sun's far-spreading sheen 

Flash its bright wing and hover 

A joyous blissful lover 
Over the answering sea. 

Now may I turn and go 

Inland, contented, slow, 
Musing a lifetime's leisure 
Over an inward treasure. 

For mine eyes have seen the sea! 

My happy heart hath known 
The light deep love hath thrown, 

The instant flame and vision 

Turning all life elysian 

Within the answering soul. 

[58] 



INLAND 

Now may I turn and work, 

No steadfast toiling shirk, 
Each far-off aim the purer, 
For light within, held surer. 

Since my heart hath known Love's soul ! 

Oh! Who yet, having seen the Sea, 

If he then must inland go, 
Doth not eat his heart zvith yearning 

To behold its ceaseless flow? 
And who yet, having known Lovers soul, 

If he then must parting go, 
Doth not thrill each breath with burning 

For its ecstasy and glow? 
He, the sea within discerning. 
Of its secret urge hath learning. 

And no inland calm can know. 



[59] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

ISLE AU HAUT 

vJ^H! a million-million-masted ship, 
With millions of green sails spread, 
A prow of rock to the tide's fierce lip, 
And song at each mast-head, — 
A prow of rock 
Where the breakers flock, 
And song to fling 
Where the sea-birds wing, — 
Song of the trees. 
Song of the breeze. 
Song through all heaven to flow, — 
A green-winged, rock-built, soaring ship 
Is Isle au Hautl 

Oh! a far sure voyage this ship fares 

On her swerveless upright keel. 
Through measureless seas of space she bears 
Aims true as the pole stars feel. 
Steady her helm, 
Though the wild waves whelm. 

[60] 



ISLE AU HAUT 

More firm her quest 
For their huge unrest; 
Vary and flaw 
Fixes the law 
Whereby all staunch ships go. 
A tireless voyage dauntless dares 
This Isle au Haut! 

A deep-eyed angel bares her brow 

Where the light spray leaps and laughs, 
And the gaunt cliff at the giant bow 
The sea's wine thirstily quaffs, — 
The sea's strong wine 
In the wide sun shine. 
Or swooning calm 
Of the moon's white balm; 
Stormy or still, 
Good is the will 
In the angel's eyes aglow, 
God-wise, God-sure she guides the prow 
Of Isle au Haut! 

[6il 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



WITH WAVES AND WINGS 

\J WAVES and Wings and Growing Things! 
As through the gladdened sight ye flow 

And flit and glow, 

Ye win me so 

In soul to go, 
I too am waves, I too am wings. 
And kindred motion in me springs. 

With thee I pass, glad growing grass! — 
I climb the air with lissome mien; 

Unsheathing keen 

The vivid sheen 

Of spiring green, 

I thrill the crude, exalt the crass 

Fine-flex'd and fluent from Earth's mass. 

[62] 



WAVES AND WINGS 

And impulse craves with thee, Sea Waves! - 
To make all mutable the floor 

Of Earth's firm shore, 

With flashing pour 

Whose brimming o'er 
Impassion'd motion loves and laves 
And livens sombre slumbering caves. 

Then soaring where the wild birds fare, 
My song would sweep the windy lyre 

Of Heaven's choir. 

Pulsing desire 

For starry fire. 
Abashing chilling vagues of air 
With throbbing of warm breasts that dare! 



[63] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE CHILDE BY THE SEA 

Of the Will of the Childe and the Sway of 
the Sea — Of the counselling Voice of the 
Soul that declareth the Plot of the Whole 
— And the Vision that promiseth Har- 
mony. 

X HE lips of the Wooer are white, — 

The lips of the wild wooing Sea, 
With hisses of hatred he sharpens his tongue, 

Grim is his glee! 
With longing of loving his pleading is wrung, 

None woos as he! 
From stress of the spirit — the human 
birthright. 
He lureth the Childe to be free. 

A kiss on his lips lies her Soul, — 

The Soul of the Childe by the Sea, 
Her eyes would forget all their innermost 
light, 

[64] 



CHILDE BY THE SEA 

Freed would she be 
From stress of desire and the human Insight, 

So lured her he! 
With passioning spent to be blent with the 
Whole, 

Full fain to lose self-hood Is she I 

Then besought her the Sea, and he cried 
wooingly: 



a 



One blood with Mine, 
My unrest Thine!" — 



And her heart rang in unison, echoingly: 

"One blood with Thine, 
"Thy unrest Mine! — 
"For prison'd in flesh is the fire 

"The Powers that begat me instil; 
"It narrows the World to desire, 

"Yet mocketh the range of my will: 
"Thrill'd through with the sway and the 
urge 

[65] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

"Of world-lapping, soft-singing surge, 

"How good to merge 
"Life's hungering, thirsting outgo 

"In boundless flowl" 

Then the whispering Sea cautioned cunningly: 



(C 



Forbear thou, like Powers that begat thee, 
to deal 
"With chaos, continual shaping and strife, 
"The ceaseless Reel 
"Of Over-Life; 
"For who but thy Makers can master that 

Wheel? 
"And who but thy Makers from living may 
wrest. 
The might in the bosom of Nature 

possess'd? 

"Seek thou thy nest, — 

"My broad bare breast! 

"The age-long plan 

"But shaped forth Man 
[66] 



(( 



CHILDE BY THE SEA 

"To find him this 
"Serene, sure bliss!" 

So the whispering murmuring ebbs and sinks 

low in a hiss, 
And it swirls back subsiding in silence all 

subtly astir. 
All its waves fuse like words in one sense and 

one will, seeking her. 

The lips of the Wooer are white, — 

The lips of the wild wooing Sea, 
With hisses of hatred he sharpens his tongue, 

Grim is his glee! 
With longing of loving his pleading is wrung, 

None woos as he! 
From stress of the spirit — the human 
birthright. 

He lureth the Childe to be free. 

A kiss on his lips lies her Soul, — 

The Soul of the Childe by the Sea; 

Her eyes would forget all their innermost 

light, 

[67] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Freed would she be 
From stress of desire and the human insight 

So lured her hel 
With passioning spent to be blent with the 
Whole, 
Full fain to lose self-hood is she! 
"One blood with Thine, 
"Thy unrest Mine! 
"Yet ever a shudder restraineth my Will; 
"In the hiss of thy kiss glitters treachery's 
skill." 

Then her Soul called within her^ imperiously: 

"Forbear thou to yield me — thy Soul — 

to the Sea: 
"The Powers that begat thee through me 
bid thee strive. 
Creation alone by thy striving shall thrive! 
On thee alone falleth the sway and the 

urge 
That gropes in the heaving and murmur- 
ing surge; 

[68] 



il 



CC 



a 



ci 



CHILDE BY THE SEA 

"Ay! all that it blindly would seek 

"Through thee, through thy Soul, 

must it wreak: 

"My impetus silent and sure 

"Dictateth a shadowy plot 

"Thine eyes of the flesh can see 

not; 

Yet shall it, long ages endure, — 

Endure till Man's heart warm 

the flame, — 

"Endure till Man's will point the 

aim 

"And master the might he must never refuse 

"Nor force; neither vield to supinely, nor 

bruise 

"For pleasuring under the foot, 

"But brotherly, lovingly use, 

"Till Sea and till Land and till 

Brute 

" Shall reap the full joy of the fruit 

"Of slow aspiration in Man — 

'Completer of all they began. 
[69] 



C( , 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



(( 



t( 



Though yet thou divlnest not how 
"Thy Soul to that dream bids thee bow. 
"To no other leading 
"Give ear, nor give heeding, 
"Lead thou! 
"I, regnant within thee, — thy Soul, 
"Shall guide, through thy Will, and control 

"The dimly seen scheme, 
"To shape itself fair in the beam 
"That shines from thine unresting dream. 



"No Titan unrest of the Sea 
"Shall deaden that unrest in thee: 
"Nor ever shall his longing master 
"The longing in thee that is vaster: 
"To subtler unrest 
"Awake in thy breast, 
"Let his then its just tribute pour, — 
"Increase kindred force evermore! 
Thy Will, for the Powers that begat thee. 
Life's Wheel 

[70] 



CHILDE BY THE SEA 

"Shall steer, through thy dream, for the 
World's livelong weal!" 

O^er the jar-singing Voice of the Sea soars the 

SouVs Voice she knows, 
From their marriage in music together strange 

prophecy flows, 
She is stung with it, Pythoness-stung, zvith 

God's oracle glows, 
To the blue mounts desire, lost in light of the 

largeness that grows 
And enfolds it, as skies in dim rapture the tossed 

seas enclose. — 
Ah! so mounts, so enfolds her the promise 

wrung strong through her throes, 
Springing fair through long futures no instant 

of living but sows! 



[71] 



II 

SELENE 



LAMENTATION MAT NOT BE IN A POETS 
HOUSE • SUCH THINGS BEFIT NOT US 



— SAPHO 



Fair-faced Selene, Daughter of Zeus; 
accomplished in the sacred art of song, the 
wide wings of whose immortal head wrap up 
the circling Earth, the light of whose death- 
less brows dwells lingering in the stream of 
ocean when she bathes her silver bosom, 
while her far-off-sprinkling-Luster Evening 
wears, and the subtle air rejoices in the deli- 
cate splendor; divine Selene, yoking her glit- 
tering high-breasted steeds maned with curled 
flame! As she waxes, her beams exhale un- 
speakable glory: then from her do men divine 
and soothsay: Hail, queen ! white-armed god- 
ess, blissful Selene, serene of heart and fair of 
tress, whom Muse-loved sweet-sung poets 
celebrate! 

Freely adapted from the Homeric Hymn to the full 
Moon, with use of Chapman (1616) and Lang 
(1905)- 




SELENE. 



PSALM OF THE RED DOORS 

kJ the spell of the Red Doors is on me, 
And the Psalm of the Lips chanteth in me! 
I shall never forget how they opened, 
For their touch ever singeth within me. 

I was wooed of the Red Doors to enter; 
With my soul on my lips then I entered, 
And the soul on my lips was alive. 
And the wind of the Portal upcaught me; 
It enrapt me away then forever. 
And the flame of the Portal enseared me; 
It ensealed me and seared me forever! 
Still I shake with the wind of the Portal, 
With the breath of the Portal I quiver: 
Still I mount with the flame of the Portal, 
With the fire of the Red Doors I tremble. 
With their passionate star-fire I flower: 

175] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Ever sheathed is the flame-bloom, enfolded, 
Ever holy of heart, ever growing, 
Ever holy of heart, ever fragrant; 
All its petals are pointed together, — 
Praying hands that do point and aspire: 
All its blossoms are birds a-wing, singing, 
All its fragrance is breath and desire. 
O my Soul is a living torch lifted. 
Budding flowers of flame in mid-air. 
Burning incense and song in mid-air; 
Ever spiring with blossoming flame. 
Ever leaping with quenchless white fire. 
Ever restlessly soaring upborne 
On the Wings of the Wind and the Flame 
Of the open Red Doors of my Altar, 
Of the Doors of the Shrine of my life, 

O the ember-red taciturn Portal 
Hath enrapt me and seared me forever. 
It hath seared me and sealed me forever! 
Ay, forever and ever. Amen. ^ ' 

[76] 



LOVE'S BANQUET 

One of the Banqueters^ singing — 

Jr OUR Love wine! Pour, pour! 
Brim Him more, ever more! 
Thrill the subtle veins of sense, 
- Flood the soul-house till the dense 
Is as air. 

Vague as mist. 
Fierce as fire, 
Flung intense 
As a prayer 
On acquist 
Of pure desire! 
Loose the chains that weight the Soul! 
Fine the flesh to her control! 
Wing! Wing the whole! 

Pour Love wine! Pour, pour! 
Brim Him more, ever more! 
,[ 77 I 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Another of the Banqueters rejoining^ singing 

Fear the God! Fear, fear! 
Keep the Vision calm, clear! 
Scant Him to His thirsty lips, 
Look you that His beaker slips 
From His grasp, 
Ere the lees 

Stain the draught 
And shame strips 
From His clasp 
Ecstasies 

All spent, all quaffed! 
Counsel measure! wisdom led, 
Fear Love's madness, and, instead, 
Give Love bread, daily bread! 
Fear the God! Fear, fear! 
Keep the Vision calm, clear! 

The voice of Love answering^ singing — 

Ay! Ay! Ye have said! 

Brim me wine! Feed me bread! 

[78] 



LOVE'S BANQUET 

Grudge no wholesomeness of wheat 
Gradual labor grindeth meet 
For my fare; 
Nor the bliss 
Sudden strong, 
Sweet and fleet, 
Festal rare. 
Let me miss 

When ardors throng, 
In the Earth's womb fostered long. 
Through the brown stalk pushing prong, 
In the grape's globe breeding song! 
Ay! Ay! Ye have said! 
Brim me wine! Feed me bread! 

The One Banqueter and the Other ^ concordantly, 

singing — 

Fear the God! Fear, fear! 

Keep the Vision calm, clear! 
Pour Love wine! Pour, pour! 
Pledge Him more! Ever more! 

[79] 



THE RETICENT STARS 

HE love Love tells is but one gleaming 
star 
'In deeps untold of stars that dumbly dwell 
'In light not breathing yet to Earth its 
spell — 
One radiant star where all those dark worlds 
are. 

Altnough no space can Light's sure arrow bar, 
' They are so near God's Touch — Love's 

boundless well — 
They dare not yet their dazzling secret 

tell — 
Blazon the pureness nearness cannot mar. > 

Unerring, sacred, quenchless light of Love! 
Thy splendor Night's drooped eyelids feel 

and sheathe; 
Yet all thy reticent dark stars afar 
I 80 ], 



RETICENT STARS 

In unimagined glory thronged above, 

May through the hush their pulsing bright- 
ness breathe, 
And, trembling, speak in but one gleaming 
star. 



I8i] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE HUSHED STRAIN 

W HOSE heart is torn beneath his tran- 
quil cloak, 
Who wept at quiet coming of the dawn, 
To him at least the Lord of Heaven once 
spoke — 
Hushed strain! his fine ear list'ning holds, 
withdrawn. 



[82] 



HOW SHALL I MY TRUE 
LOVE KNOW? 

iVlY True Love's name is Pain. 

Her black brows frown. 
Breath of her mouth Is Doubt: 
It chills her own fire out. 
Where her lips' touch hath lain 

Love's bliss to crown, 
The transport's edge hath slain! — 

Fear smote us down. 

My True Love Pain! Dear Pain! 

Wouldst thou with me I wonder, — 
Test how the Soul bears strain 

The Body falters under? 

Must I my True Love know 

By this deep scar? — 
I, craving joy as air. 
Risks free as frank winds dare, 

[83] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

From her doubt learn this woe — 

Myself to mar! — 
And tossed thus to and fro, 

Estrange my star! 

My True Love Pain, dear Pain! 

Wouldst thou with me I wonder, 
Prove how the Soul reaps gain 

From throes that cleave asunder! 

Yea ! I my True Love know 

By wounds and fears; 
Yet since of Love they came, 
I hail them in Love's name; i 
I crown with calm each throe. 

Stanch shining tears, 
Choose shame above the show 

Of lighter years. 

My True Love Pain, dear Pain! 

Riches of thee I plunder, — 
Such sweetness I am fain 

To win, — my Soul hath wonder. 

[84] 



LOVE, HELP THY LIEGEMAN! 

For a Beatrice Nuova^ with lingering memory of Banters 

Ballad 

Lord love ! Go thou, for me with her 

to dwell 
And foster that In her to reap not seek — 
Her sweet compassion, swift as thou to know. 
What else 't were best to hide from chilling 

glance: — 
How strange as life love is In me, beyond 
All strength of man to vanquish, ere again 
It rise unvanqulshed; like that angel might \ 
The thews of Israel grew ever strong 
From wrestling with, yet never threw, and 

still 
Drew blessing from, — the awful kiss of God 
Branding the foeman who such grappling 

dared. 
Yet foster not In her. Lord Love! — If 

this 

[ 85 ] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

She learn through thee, aught that may vex 

her peace, 
Or trouble her pure eyes, with pain for me; 
But tutor her how woe from thy deep soul 
Is richer than the shallow happiness 
Thy careless shorter-lasting moods lets fall 
Thy flying fingers; in whose grasp and wrench 
My heart rests marked, aye shapen to her will 
In pride, though scored with flames of thine 

through her. 
The brand of angel-struggle in my soul. 

And Love, Lord Love! if thou so far in 

her 
Compassion stir; ah! if thy whitest beam 
Uncloak like woe in her, like strife of bliss 
To chord with mine; — lead her to freely 

spend 
Her face — eyes — rapt, on mine; thereafter 

what 
Twain ways of life but we should conqu'ring 

march. 

Nor fail to meet forever, parting thus! 

[86] 



IKAROS 

JjE loved and love! — till out of joy 

A prouder transport springs 
To master bliss, dare ardors cloy, 
Dare Soul fling wider wings: — 
Such wondrous wings 
Must outsoar God, — 
Before His Face the Man-heart laud! 

Yet if Love chanced to smile, content; 

Or craved he, quenchless, more. 
He alien stayed, though with God blent, 
So faint a heart he bore I — 
Too faint heart bore 
To ride the Sphere : — 
He sank to find his dwelling — here! 



[87] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE SECOND VINTAGE 

JriOW may I think you false, Dear? 

How can I call you light? — 
'T was bliss to be but near, Dear, 

Our souls had such clear sight. 

May what was once so true, Dear, ' 

Know any change indeed? 
I scout the chill-eyed fear, Dear, 

That makes my faint heart bleed. 

Let me but free this anguish. 
And yield my scorn right scope! 

Ah! love can never languish 
Although it lose all hope. 

The rage and scorn pent in me 

Flare tumult through my brain; 

Thine eyes on mine look strangely: 

My soul is fierce with pain. 
[88] 



SECOND VINTAGE' 

Yet doubting love is treason; 

I '11 rend some veil away, 
And find the gnawing reason 

That frets the old love's sway. 

I wait in abject weakness; 

I probe the secret truth, 
I prove my pain with meekness, 

I tear my breast with ruth. 

Not Love's deep look, mere Pity's 
I crave — kind torture? — No! - 

Too high were once our blisses; 
I drink my tears, — and go! 

But all that wine divine. Dear, 
Our souls quaffed solemnly. 

I pledge anew with thine. Dear, 
Alone, triumphantly. 

A victor shall I say, Dear? — 
I win, whate'er the cost; 

But bleed my heart away, Dear, 
For human comfort lost. 

[89] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE "UNEXPRESSIVE SHE" 

JL/EEP blue seas are certain eyes, 
Basking in them Love's Soul lies; 
That strange world the sense-world flies, 

Beaming from them; 
Will to suff'er yet to rise; 
Energy to climb the skies, 

Streaming from them. 

In those seas who looks deep cries — 
"All I hoped would prove Life's prize 
Here exceeds my best surmise!" — 

Deeming of them 
Was the ray to light the wise. 
And the love beyond all ties, — 

Dreaming of them! — 
[90] 



THE "UNEXPRESSIVE SHE" 

For they harden while you look, 

No deep question will they brook, 

What you brought them — that you took 

Seeming of them! 
From your yearning self arise 
Those deep joys Love's wish espies, 

Dreaming of them. 



[91] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



KEEPING SCORE 

Through many days, 

Her gracious ways, 
Familiar to me grown. 

In richer store 

Shall heap the score 
Of love for her I 've known." 

Ah! so I said; 

But nearness led 
To love past all before, 

Until I knew, 

Than now I do 
I could not love her more! 



[92] 



FLITTING JOY 

r^ LITTING Joy drew near and hovered 
Till my gladness hers discovered: 
Then she yielded to my drouth; 
Freely gave her happy mouth 
Fragrant with the sun-kissed South, 
Mixed with mine her sun-lit eyes 
Till no doubt of them could rise 
Nor their look from mine could stray 
Evermore, and — went her way! 

Did she go? How strange her leaving! 

Flitting so was scarce bereaving: 
Mourning o'er it long and long 
Heartens me and makes me strong; 
Joy I nevermore can wrong, 
With her lips my words I speak, 
With her eyes my Heaven seek. 
Did she go? — or does she stay? — 
Ever with me, aye and aye! 

[93] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE BANNERS 

JL HY heart shall hold love folded in, 

As timid leaves in May 
Hold tremblingly, all moulded in, 

On each sky-seeking spray. 
Through cloud and cold, through storm and 

calm, 
Close-crumpled in each furled-in palm 
The banners broad of June. 

Thy heart, as they, shall curb desire, 
Through cloud and cold, till Sun, 

Of ripeness born, unfurl the fire 
From Spring's reluctance won: 

God's moment then shall win the way 

To fling from timid clasp of May 
The banners broad of June. 

[94] 



'■#p 




NIRVANA. 



NIRVANA 

iVXY Heart is wreathed around with wings. 

With wings close-furled, 
From my Heart's brow a Lotus springs, 

With tears dew-pearled; 
From my Heart's eyes the tears are shed, — 

Lids, hide the throes! 
O my Heart's lips, on kisses fed, 

No love disclose. 

Hide my Heart's Rose! 



[95] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE WAY OF THE WIND 

''So is every one that is born of the Spirit." 

J\jLY Spirit seized thine as the Wind of God 

Whence It wisteth flowing, 

Where It listeth blowing; 
With swift-born silence and secrecy shod, 
We followed the way the still footing trod, 
My Spirit and thine, as the Will of God, 

Nor the wherefore knowing. 

In a transport going! 

What law in thy Soul then pierced mine like 
Fate, 

As it listeth smiting 

With its carven writing? 
Wavered the Wind of the ecstasy late; 
Faltered the Music no music could mate: 
Now plod we wayfaring in lonely state. 

With wings drooped alighting 

From a dream of plighting. 

[96] 



WAY OF THE WIND 

Yet wait we as waiteth the passive tide; — 

When it wisteth surging, 

As it listeth merging 
The docile waters, that its will abide. 
Resistless in one trend who yet hath tried 
To rend aside, when they in glory ride, 

Well assured, their scourging 

Works the round earth's purging? 

Arise God's wind! Breathe again from the 
deep. 

Whom thou listeth sealing 

With thy swift revealing! 
Bind the white tide as thy yoke-charger, 

sweep 
On to one bliss our souls of love who keep 
Sacred the hest that bids them wait, nor reap 

The great rush of feeling 

Save from God's lips reeling! 



[97] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

SATURN 

XN a shining space 

Her face! 
In other spaces 
A world of faces, — 

Outside! — 
As the rings that ride 
In their dusker state 
Round the Star of Fate, 
Their dim whorl afar 
From the central star 

Alone 

My own! 
My heart of pure white, 
My well-spring of light. 
All the sky a waste 
To hold thee more graced, 
The shrined and chaste. 

O Thou ! the lone moved. 
The firm-hearted, pure, 
[98] 



SATURN 

Immaculate, proved 
To abide and endure, 
From whom thunders deep, 
Implacable, leap, — 
And the secret might 
Of the Father-born 
In blue-brilliant night 
Lifts her glancing horn, — 
Hecate, — holding 
In Thine — her Sire's name, 
The seeds of live fire. 
In her wide breast's folding, 
The spell of desire. 
The flower of flame, 
And the spirit-dower 
In her hands' control 
Of the winds that scour 
Beyond Earth's pole, — 
In thy rings embrace 
Her face! 

Sire Saturn, — thy thunder 
[99] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Guard ever the wonder! 

Immure 
In Fate's cincture sure 
Forever the sense 
Of the touch intense! 
And Hecate, thou, 
Who the Deep can plough 

And spur 

The stir 
Of the leaping water, — 
O Father-born daughter, 
Up-summon the coal — 
Flame-seed in the Soul 
When thy great winds roll! 
The undying ember 
Thy look's fecund spell 
Shall rouse, will remember 
The God no gods quell, — 
Who 'mid the still regions 
Of starry legions 
Girt with shining hides, 
Alone-moved abides. 

[ 100] 



LOVE'S HOLY DAYS 
THE CHRISTMAS 

*'No man hath seen God. .. . . The only begotten son 
which is in the Bosom . . . hath declared him." 

JL HE very Christ once with us dwelt. 

Born in a quiet lowly; 
Only a star sang, and we knelt. 
The meagre room was holy. 

Our lips touched, as angel-wings touch 
O'er the crib where they hover, 

The love born within us was such 
As the Christ-child they cover. 

A babe it was, helpless and meek, 
Our gifts and tendance craving, . 

Yet a god withal, we must seek 
To find strength for our saving. 

[lOl] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 
THE EPIPHANY 

**Zo, the star went before them^ . . . and they rejoiced^ 
. . . and opened their treasures^ and presented gifts^ gold, 
frankincense y and myrrh." 

X HE heart of the glow of our star, 

Ever calling us hither, 
Is guiding us on from afar, 
Sure are we It knows whither! 

No treasure so rich, overwrought 

With travail of the giver, 
But, counting its pricelessness nought, 

Haste we on to deliver! 

The gold of our hearts still we give, 

Yet are never the poorer; 
The breath of each instant we live, 

Yet of life are but surer. 

With fragrance of frankincense, myrrh. 

Of love's bitterness burning. 

From anguish most keenly astir. 

Measureless sweetness earning. 
[ 102 ] 



LOVE'S HOLY DAYS 



THE HOLY THURSDAY 

**And he saidy My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto 
death. . . . And he withdrew from them, and prayed, say- 
ing, my Father, if it he possible, let this cup pass from 
me! 

X HIS is anguish, — early, late, 
Ceaseless love of one to hate; 
All unmeet for hearts below; 
Only Gods should bear such woe, 
Only Gods such secrets know. 

Such the anguish, — thine, O Christ, 
Piercing love that far out-priced 
Rood and nails and spear-thrust through, 
Scorn of those thy pity knew, — 
Those who wist not what they do! 



[ 103] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Shrink, my lips, from cup of strength 
Making man scarce man at length; 
All unmeet for hearts below; 
Only Gods should bear such woe, 
Only Gods such secrets know. 

Oh, to honor, not look down 
On the soul thy love would crown, 
Know the Christ of flesh and pain 
By compassion, equal, fain, 
Not by lonely spirit gain! 



[ 104] 



LOVE'S HOLY DAYS 



THE EASTER EVE 

**The next day the Pharisees came together, . . . sayings 
That deceiver said, while he was yet alive, . . . I will rise 
again. Command therefore that the sepulchre he made 
sure. . . . Pilate said, Te have a watch. Make it as sure 
as ye can." 

All-loving love is in his tomb, 

Half-loves alone are living; 
For such may earth-born men yield room, 
Denying Heaven's giving. 

All-loving love from heaven sent, 

Must have his mission scouted, 
And share what scant-breathed life is lent 

Earth-loves that may be doubted. 

All-loving love hath bent his head 

Nor sought his due exalting 

Beyond the hope those body-led 

Allot to love's assaulting. 
[105] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Earth-love whose life is through each child 

Renewed with half defeature, 
That knows not yet the undefiled 

Undying spirit-nature. 

Doubt's soldiery gross-guards the tomb. 

Sees not above it hover 
Faith's angel, watching, too, till doom 

Obey the Master-lover! 



[ io6] 



THE ORDER OF PERPETUAL 
ADORATION 

X HERE is an Order in the Church 

Permits no sun nor season, 
No hour nor minute Time could search, 

No sHght nor weighty reason 
To stop the praise adoring ever 

The touch Divine 
Whose hallowing none may dissever 
From bread and wine. 

Within the heart like order held 

Ordains each lesser feeling, 
Or sudden joy or throe up-welled 

From deeps of Life's revealing 

Shall celebrate and still assever 

The touch divine 

Of Love supreme, forgetting never 

Lips once its shrine. 
[ 107] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



IMMORTALITY 

J\JLL guarded round with floating beams 

Of inward light, 
My Angel, inly listening, dreams, 

With inmost sight: 
And thrilling for a singing flight 

Up visioned ways, 
Around her head an aureole 

Of wide wings rays; 
Within them Power beats and burns, 
As underneath her eyelids yearns 

Her dreaming Soul. 

With ardors of imagining, 

Caressed apart, 
Deep spirit-piercing raptures wring 

My Angel's Heart — 

Seed-fires that visibly up start 

In flames of bloom, 
[io8] 




THE VISION OF LOVE IN SLEEP. 



IMMORTALITY 

Whose waving blossoms gladness wrest 

From rankling gloom; 
Her shining brow around they wreathe, 
Each uplift of her life-breath breathe, 
Forever blest! 



[ 109] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



BY THE SIXTH SENSE 

kJ I see, I see the tears of blood 

In the lotus bud, 
Though it blooms on thy brow, 
O so whitely now, 

Proud Saint! 
O I see, I know 
The stabbing woe 
And hidden stain 
Of conquered pain, 

Dear Saint! 

O then feel with me how fierce the wind 

When the wings sprang twinned, 

Though they beat round my brow 

O so lightly, now, 

Proud Saint! 
[no] 



, THE SIXTH SENSE 

Only thee I show 
The torture-throe 
And dragging drain 
Whence strong wings strain, 
Dear Saint! 

If we cancel, thus the bitter debt. 

May we quite forget 
How the tears still endure 

In the lotus pure, 
Proud Saint! — 

How the scar still stings 

'Neath soaring wings 

Whose mounting flight 

Is thy soul's height. 
Dear Saint! 

O from struggle ever wrest we strength 
Bringing peace, at length! — 

Be it so, or I fear. 
Ever lonely here, 
Proud Saint! 

[Ill] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

I shall strive my best, 
Yet feel, o'erpressed, 
My wings, thy token. 
Fall broken — broken! — 
Dear Saint! 



f 112] 



INTERLUDE 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



DJABAL AND ANAEL 

Epilogue songs written to accompany Browmng*s 
*' Return of the Druses J* 

DJABAL'S SONG 

ZjlND am I not Hakeem, though man? 

Needs it a God to plot and plan 

And pour his heart and brain and soul 

Through lonely patient scheming years, intent 

By small slow conquests to control 

And bring to birth, at last, the purpose meant? 

Is it no marvel earth-like stuff 

Compacts a sun night's blackness to rebuff? 

A man who leads is miracle enough! 



[115] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



ANAEL'S SONG 

1 KNEW thy secret from the first, 
When thy heart's fire upon me burst, 
With music led me on and on 
Through anguish, gropingly to prove the clew, 
Till sight and soul in unison 
Beheld the Secret from the first I knew. 
No triumph with the God be mine! 
Hakeem, in Djabal only, I divine — 
Love — in that sin-shamed human breast of 
thine 1 



[ii6] 



IN PRAISE OF BROWNING 

vyF loveliness, and all the fair 

In Life, the perfect, choice, and rare — 

The bloom of deeds 

Most poets tell: 
They with the love of Beauty swell 
The heart of Man; and this is well. 
But Browning moves to love of Life, 
Oft-failing yet aspiring strife 

Tow'rd Beauty's seeds — 

The sleeping spore 
Such love of Life can wake to soar 
Within each heart: O this is more! 

With growing light through ages shine 
The vision of the Love Divine 

Of God made Man: 

So seers still win 

[117] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

A hope for mortals, spite of sin, 

And Life is bless'd since that hath been. 

But Browning's vivid eye discerns 

God in each heart where pure love burns 

Where Spirit ran, 

Flashing strange spells, 
Transcendent love in might upwells; 
God's witness thus in each Soul dwells. 



[ii8] 



TRANSLATIONS 

BERTRAND'S SONG TO THE 
MARINERS 

From Rostand's ^'La Prtncesse Lointaine,'* 

Again then I tell you how fair 

Is one we shall gaze on soon. 
The golden sun laughs in her hair, 

Dreams, in her eyes, of the moon. 

Her floating hair veils and unveils 

A brow so starlit and pure 
No other devotion but pales, 

All other love seems unsure. 

Her charm sole, subtle, a flower 

Hidden yet haunting the air, 
Is charm of a saint, with power 

Of a sorceress to snare. 
[ 119] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

And simple ways her will behooves,' 
But rich resources on them wreaks, 

She like a swaying blossom moves, 
Like a forest spring she speaks. 

So fair, and yet half faerie, 

Surely Frank, yet Moabite, 
Is Melissinde of Tripoli 

In her palace whelmed in light. 

And thus we there shall see her soon, 

Unless all lies the tattling 
Of pilgrims false, their cloaks and shoon 

With scallop shells all rattling. 



[ I20 ] 



TRANSLATIONS 



MILA 'S SONG 

From D'Annunzio's "La Figlia di Jorio" 

XjIDED mute the patron angel 
From the walnut woodblock carven, 
Deaf the wood stayed, secret, sacred, 
Saint Onofrio vouchsafed nothing. 

Till said one apart, a third one 
(O have pity on us. Patron!) 
Till said one apart, the fair one, 
Lo! my heart all willing, waiting! 

Would he quaff a draught of marvel? 
Let him take my heart's blood, quaff it! 
But of this make no avowal. 
But of this make no revealing. 

Suddenly the stump budded branches,^ 
Out of the mouth a branch sprang budding. 
Every finger budded branches. 
Saint Onofrio all grew green again! 

[121] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



DEDICATORY PRAYER 

From D^Annunzio's '*La Nave." 

JLlEARKEN, Lord God, tremendous, dire, 
Cry of our Sires' stupendous ire 
Battling on deck: This I kindle with fire 
is the Beacon and Pyre. 

'Twixt Pola, Albona, hard by Quarnaro, 
The bold pine I cleft, the bay's bitter marrow 
And the sacred oak with twin-edg'd steel 
arrow 

of wedge-axe narrow. 
And when the wood of the masts over casting 
And wood of the hull with wreaths everlasting 
Victory's wreaths; — ah! then I remembered 

all of our dead 
Gulfed in the Deep, all of our dead 
Gulfed in the swallowing Deep that fed 

on the brave in their caravels: 

[ 122] 



TRANSLATIONS 

But said I: O God of birth and renewals 
Of stocks by Sea, and of ruins and strewals, 
The living, living, shall they ever be 

who upon the Sea 
Shall magnify Thee, who upon the Sea 
Shall glorify Thee, who upon the Sea 
Burn myrrh on Thine altar and blood- 
sacrifices 

Where the Ship's beak rises. 
make Thou of all of the Oceans Our Sea! 

Amen. 



[ 123 ] 



Ill 

HECATE 



DEATH IS EVIL • THE GODS HAVE 

SO JUDGED • HAD IT BEEN GOOD 

THET WOULD DIE 

— SAP HO 



1 125 ] 



HECATE 

1 CALL Hecate of the Ways, of the Cross- 
ways, of the Darkness, of the Heaven and 
the Earth and the Sea; saffron-clad goddess 
of the grave, exulting amid the spirits of the 
dead, kindling new life, Perseia, lover of 
loneliness, Hecate of the shining head-tyre 
. . . thinking delicate thoughts; Queen who 
holdest the Keys of the World, ... be pres- 
ent at our pure service with the fulness of 
Joy in thine heart. 

From Orphic Hymn, as given by Gilbert Murray, 
and Homeric Hymn to Demeter. 



[126] 



THE TRAGIC RAPTURE 

W INNOW me, Life! winnow and sift me! 
Harrow me, Fate! harrow and lift me! 
Hallow me, Love! wring me and rive me! 
Aught but the best, purge me from, shrive me! 
Lightning-sure Aim! nothing less shift me! 
Lightning-sure Touch! thrill me and gift me! 
Life! smite thy tragic full chord in me, 
Let it be potently lord in me, 

Through my soul glorying float; 

Pour through my triumphing throat 

Song of the dominant note! 



[ 127] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



AMULETS 

XF thou shalt ever see with inner sight, 
No outward gaze of thine but will be bright, 
Kindling in thee and all who meet thee — 
light! 

If thou shalt ever feel with heart awake, 
No sin and tears but shall thy sorrow slake, 
And round the evil good's fair halo make. 

MASTERY 

Sometimes, alone, along the peak, 
The Angel in me hears God speak; 
Sometimes, unknown, it journeys down 
And strives among men in the town. 

Sometimes, it is so strong, I bear 
God's word to me where all men fare: 
O best! if in the battling street 
Life's harshest voice to me rings sweet! 
[128] 



WORK DAY PRAYERS 

VjOD of Love, God of Work! Touch me 

with fire! 
For all dross within me, fill me with ire! — 
So with pure passion I cleave to my Star, 
Speed my work, daily, toward the mark — 

far! 

God of Love, God of Work! Breathe in me 

— air! 
Blue and breeze-swept spaces brighten my 

care! — 
So each swirl of effort leave my hand calm. 
So each heart meeting mine only feel — 

balm! 



[ 129] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



HOLY DAY PRAYERS 

(jrOD of Light, God of Joy! Kindle my 

gaze ! — 
So it dart, arrowy, threading the maze 
Glooming, confusing my soul's right and rash 
Gleam to Thy Heaven it sees In one flash! 

God of Light, God of Joy! Bless thou my 

bliss 
Arrogance, shrivel! — lest mar I or miss 
Joy of heart-joy in the sudden capture — 
Sharing on earth here the human rapture. 



[ 130] 



A GLAD LITTLE SORRY SONG 

V-/H, full cause, full cause have I 
To be sorry, to be sad; 

Yet my tears are — almost dry I 
And my soul in me is singing, 
And my will is clinging, clinging 

To long plans it has to try — 
Plans for all a future's bringing I 

Oh, what cause, what cause have I 
To be sorry, to be sad. 
Who am still so glad, so glad, 

Quite without a reason why? 



[131] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



MAN'S CRADLE SONG 

To the World-Mother — Life. 

O THOU World-Mother, Life! Press me 

close to thy breast! 
I would nourish my lips with thy milk — 

human kindness: 
And be lulled with thy murmurs to halcyon 

rest, 
I would nest in thy breast with true faith's 

profound blindness, — 
And awake, I would take, with a will, task 

and strife. 
If thou nurture me, cradle me, mother me, 

Life! 

fO thou World-Mother, Life! Mould me 
meek to thy plan, 

[ 13-2 ] 



MAN'S CRADLE SONG 

I would shrink from no dint of thy hand's 

hardest pressing, 

If it shaped me to use in the service of Man, 

I would know all the woe for my Soul's 

caressing. 

That would, soothed, tremor smoothed, rule 

the cure of Pain's knife; — 

If thou chastened and scourged, but to 
mother me. Life! 

O thou World-Mother, Life! Tell me 
stories of yore! 
I would watch thy lips move, I would see 
thine eyes glowing: 
Till thy marvel and vision each new morn- 
ing more 
Spurred my will to fulfil thy heroical showing: 
Then requite thy child-knight for his day 

with deeds rife; — 
Then embrace me, and lavish thy love on 
me. Life! 

[ 133] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



THE HEARTH FIRE 

JlLLOQUENT heads of haughty trees, 
Talking with clouds, wreathed with the 

breeze. 
Long cherished on the breast of fruitful earth, 
Felled for the pyre be ye, — shorn for the 
hearth! 
Lie ye low, fallen prone. 
Bound on man's altar-stone! 
The windy locks, wide-tossed, be 

furled, — 
Let curling flames in eddies whirled. 
Mock with their narrow, vortexed, parching 

glare 
The fresh free gestures of uncabined air! 

Renounced be life of kind and seed! 
Let green fire bleed for human need, 

[134] 



HEARTH FIRE 

The green fire fertile in the sun-god's look 
Be red fire barren in the chimney-nook 1 
Bleeding sap, tongue of flame, 
Sing thy joy, sing thine aim! — 
The paeons chant of living wood, — 
Exalted, gods in lowlihood, — 
Sibilant, sacrificial embers dying, 
Jubilant spirit-splendor prophesying! 

And you, ye flaunting heads of high desires 

Let red flame sway! 
Burn ye to feed in me life's purer fires, 

And purge the clay 

Down by the root close-clinging! 

Let branching pride sky-springing 
To greater gods of secret spirit-power 

In sacrifice be shorn! 

Nor shrink nor mourn 
The nurture of life's lesser dower — 
Earth's breast, the beacon-sky, — Love's, 
Pride's full flower: 

O no! destroy, destroy 
[135] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Sky-glory and Earth-dearness so keen pangs 

deploy 
Life's hidden force and free the flame-winged 

blossom — Joy! 



[ 136 ] 



THE LIGHTED FACE 

U P the street, down the street, through the 

town faring, 
Everywhere, anywhere, not a lane sparing, 
Only the lighted face searching for, caring! 

Only the lighted face; — 

Is the quest so daring? 

Sharpened face, mufHed face, face of boy, 
maiden, — 
Flower face, not a trace 
Grief or trouble-laden. 

Pigeon face, vulture face, prinking, or 
scheming. 

Bargain-bent, profit-pent, rigid with seem- 
ing, — 

[ 137] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

These I find; let me find, inwardly beaming, 
Somewhere the lighted face, 
Soul from in it streaming! 

Life is good, aim is good, deeper soul's 
yearning 
Out must chase cravings base; 
Facel Thy Soul keep burning! 



[138] 



THE SUNLIT SHOWER 

OQUALID and foul the city street, 

Lowering the sky and sour; 
Suddenly Heav'n's compassion sweet 

Fell in a sunlit shower, 

Sprang from its heart a rainbow pure, 

To make the world of beauty sure. 



[ 139] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



IN THE CROWD — A SONG! 

yj THROUGH the streets the crowds go all 
hurried, all harassed; 

Life means to them but barter, but selling, 
spending pelf; 

One question fitly sums It, — and bent upon 
it passed 

The worried jostlers near me; — ' Now what 
have you amassed ? " 

O Life besides means nothing, — No; noth- 
ing in itself! 

But, hark! above the traffic, the good green 

Common near. 
Fly past the first Spring bluebirds, — song 

falls from one bright elf 
[ 140] 



IN THE CROWD 

Full sure of life and loving and Springtime 
each new year. 

O daring flight face Northward with com- 
rades singing cheer! 

So, Life means singing, loving, — ^_is some- 
thing in itself! 



[ 141 ] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



WORK DAY SUNSET CHANT 

ij"RAY-BLUE swims the air in the sky's 
upper height, 
Gray-blue flows the sea-dreaming river, 
Dull red glow the lights ere their hour to shine 
bright 
Athwart the blue stream where they quiver. 

The arm of the Working-Day strikes his last 
stroke, 
His forge-embers glimmer to Westward; 
The swart wolf-throat factories belch their 
last smoke, 
The trolley-kites screech their prey rest- 
ward. 



[ 142 ] 



WORK DAY CHANT 

All day wolves and kites of Life's drudgers 
took toll; 
They miss now a mintage far better; — 
The skill of the Worker earns pay in his 
Soul, — 
The purpose to smite off Toil's fetter. 

His sigh for free joy in work soars to God's 
sky, — 
Lo, there! where the blue glows intenser, 
And mixed with black forge-smoke purged 
pure, spiring high. 
It breathes out that prayer in God's censer. 



[ 143] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



CHELSEA 

*'AU that a man hath will he give for his life" 

{Chelsea Fire, April 12, 1908; 
San Francisco, April 18, 1906.) 

XDUT one among a thousand sister towns 

Unmarked of Fame, — 
A hive of life no excellence renowns 

Beyond the daily, tame 

Prosperity of lowlihood 

In mart and home and fane, — 
But one among a thousand Chelsea stood 

Beside the Eastern Flood: 
Now one from thousands falls she branded, 
charred, 

Supremely scarred! 
The tragic dignity of Doom's fierce frown 
Sears round her mediocre brow a crown 

[ 144] 



CHELSEA 

Whose blood-red glowing gems grow cinders 
black; 

And in her helpless hand 

Calamity doth thrust 

The sceptre of her lack, — 

Her need's grim Must! — 

Outstretched to all the land, 
Commanding alms from ruin, ashes, dust. 

What eminence of pain 
The giant hand of Woe hath on her lain! 

O dear young Land on whom such perils wait, 

For what deep seal and sign 
Doth lowly Chelsea to the Golden Gate, — 
Whose town imperial lay shaken late 

Beside the Western Brine, 
By flames in Earth's deep flanks so doomed. 
So scored, so razed, and utterly consumed, — 
Now echo back the grisly watchword — 
"Fate"? 

Behold on what ironic trifle fell 
The semen of Fate's mighty quell! 

[145] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

A refuse cast-out heap of rags that 

mouldered, — 
That tradesmen deemed of every value 

rifled, — 
On that ignoble bed, where life lay, smoul- 
dered. 
Where unsuspected force hid, slighted, 

stifled, — 
The young Spring wind disdained to touch, 

yet fawned 
Upon; — there, viewlessly the Fire-djinn 

spawned. 
And as the Arab Genii, once kept pent 
Within a phial, whining to be lent 
His freedom, spread his sway 
Out of the jar with omen swart, 

The sun athwart, — 
This Djinn uprears his crafty head 

And spurns his narrow bed. 
His eyes' red wrath devours his prey, 
His snorting nostrils' fumes are shafts of 
smoke 

[146] 



CHELSEA 

That pillar up the sky, 
With wings of wind on-leaps his flail's wide 
stroke, 
And emptiness Is left to know it by. 

The startled townsmen scarcely weigh their 
woe. 
Nor guess how life may for them fare 
(If life be left them!) of all chattels bare,— 

The dear familiar household ware, 
Accumulation through their lives their care. 
But some who lavished all of life in pains 
To have and hold no other than such gains. 
To valuations new, instinctive start: 
With all the toiled-for trash now would they 

part. 
The misprised life they spent it for, to 

spare: 
While others, still pelf-mastered, habit-led, 
With dullard wit, half unaware 

How imminent the dread, 
Scuttle to garner up and pack, 
[147] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

With haste too slow, — too slow! 
Wild-eyed or stolid, on they move, 

To hunt new lack! 
The courser at their back 
O'ertakes them on their track; 
And whom he wills he spares, 

Whom not he snares; 
Nor may be known the urn 
Where whom he slew doth burn, 
Nor how another 
Out-thrived the smother. 
Through scathe, through scape, the Foe 
Unshakable yet whimsical doth prove. 
Implacable as Hate and swift as Love. 

O now that Cheisea lies so low, 
The monster desolation greatens her, 
And o'er her abject grave doth laurels strow. 
A quiet holds her walled amid the stir 
Of greater Boston, that here seems to come 
From far-off, throbbing like a muffled drum. 
To make her stillness mourn. 

[148] 



CHELSEA 

O now doth Chelsea boast the look 

Of sites where pomp hath gloried, — 
Immortal Capitals Time's mace down-strook 

And Fame's scroll storied. 
The gaping cellar and foundation-stone, 

Uncumbered bare and lone, — 
Of bounds and signs of superstructure shorn, 
Severe, — content the eye with simple show 

And summon up a state 
Commensurate 

With her grim fate. 

Lo! monumental emblems of this hap 

Stay rooted in her breast; 
Bold monoliths of death-in-life to mark 
With shuddering: — her trees, in April, stark! 
Black from the mouthing flames' coercive lap, 
All hope of gladsome green from in them 

pressed 
Forever out! Against the April blue 
They rigid write 
Memorials in each man's sight. 
[ 149] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

With barren naked stumps of arms. 
No longer may they sway 

And sing 
With winds of Spring 
Their old-time April way; 
Yet now of what they dumbly say 
The winds of Spring resounding echoes 
borrow. 

O Land of April, hear! The rune is true 
They moan to you, 
Oracular and stern; 
Befits the heart to learn, — 
The blithesome spirit thrill with deep alarms, 
Attentive struck, and heed, 
Against a morrow 
Of worser sorrow 
Sprung from a subtler seed! 

O Land of April, youngest of the Earth, 
Thine own life-giving April holds such dearth 
Within her smouldered heart. 

[150] 



CHELSEA 

The social refuse of thy life oppressed, 
Engend'ring vengeance in its sullen nest, 
Can at the will that no man lists up start 
And from the scorned neglected swarming 
heap 
With wings of Whirlwind leap ! 

O goodly young new April-world ! 
Beneath thy careless trampling feet 
That to and fro 
Up-building substance go. 
More palaces and luxuries to show 
How proudly like the old world thou dost 
grow, — 
Unseen, beneath, lurks force more fleet 
Than all the prospering thou lovest so. 
To prompt the wronged and reckless with 

life-lust 
To shake thee with their shout — ^^Unjust! 

Unjust!" 
To rend thee whence they grovel in the 
dust, — 

[151] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Make totter thy tall towers, and mock thy 

spires 
With innermost and fundamental fires; 
Till things chaotic in due chaos hurled 
Obey the struggling Order in them furled 

Crying for birth! 
Yea! Out from hoards safe built on as the 

earth 
The Spirit that makes matter for its mirth 

To use or else lay low, 
Can crushing ruin for the worldling breed, 
Proclaim, by utter loss, 
His treasure, dross, — 
With grim derision let his life-blood bleed 

To prove its higher worth. 
Then rise and light a better Day hereafter 
With beams of Dawn shot from that scarlet 
laughter. 

Dear April Land, thy human inward life 
Hold dear! hold dear! 

[ 152 ] 



CHELSEA 

Black IS the trunk the life breath leaves 
Numb to the rising sap that only weaves] 

Within perpetual growth. 
No inert product of thy matter-strife 
Account so near 
That thou may'st e'er deprive 
For arid need 
Of barren greed 
The growth of weakest child of thine — 
alive ! 
O loath, most loath 
Are these thy prophet-woes at East and West 
That thou shalt learn by inward death 
That Life is best: 
Like those self-withered Nations who, Time 
saith. 
Their own dishonored children sold 
For gold. 
Youngest of Mother-nations, blight not thou 
By any tricksters' stealth, 



[ 153] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Whence self-consuming dooms like theirs 

have sprung, 
Thy human for thy sordid commonwealth! 
Hold pure the vision of thine early vow! 
Impartial love shine from thy morning brow! 
Life-breath of all thy children keep thee 

young! '. 



[154] 



DOUBLE MOMENTS 

Sunlight lingers ^Ithrough the day, all 
day long; 
But in dawn and twilight dwells, 
Inter-weaves, with hidden spells, 
Days of deed and nights of dream, 
Fuses in Time's fleeting stream 
Shining vision, shadowed gleam: 

So, together. Night and Day make life strong. 

Love gives gladness all through life, all life 
long; 
But love's darkness with love's glow 
Lift to rapture each deep throe. 
Sun and cloud intensely met, 
Mingling splendor with the threat. 
Magic mutual beget: 
So, together, bale and bliss make love's song. 

[155] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Progress beckoned through the years, ages 
long: 

Up the steep with laurels spread 

One by one the heroes led; 

One by one they scale the height; 

Still far-off the peaks shine white, 

Challenging that moment's might 
When together, heroes mount with the throng. 



I 156 ] 



THE MASTER-FATE 

1 POURED out my heart in a throbbing lay, 

One half-happy day, 
And after I wrote it a wind arose, 
A trickstering time-serving wind of prose 

And swept it away. 

O far and away, out of grasp, — of reach! 

It seemed that all speech. 
Sweet fruitage of song to redeem the pain, 
The barren soul lost with that heart-wrung 
strain: 

It could not beseech: 

The Written was written : the Lost was lost. 

By Fate calmly crossed, 
The grief was too sore for a sorrow more. 
The windfall of Fate then a new fate bore, 

And back the scroll tossed! 
[157] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Take counsel, wild Heart! See how still Soul 
stays 

Through half-happy days! 
By nature all unaware wise to wait 
The ripening stroke of the master-Fate 

No Fate but obeys! 



1 158 ] 



THE CALL OF MODERN TRAGEDY 

VV HAT is out there all moaning, troubled, 
With passions vast on passions doubled, 
With unknown forces darkly tossing 
And chartless counter-currents crossing? 

The hearts are these of souls immortal; 

Sea-way is this to Art's high Portal. 

But child's play on the strand our playing 

While we were blind to wrecked hands 
praying, 

And faces white like wild birds swaying, 

Upturned to tempests, mute, past speaking. 

O leave mere toys, — small pleasure-seek- 
ing,— 

Life's shallows leave; the full flood breasting, 

For manly Art strive, stern, unresting! 

Heed, heed the call! Who dare clasp sorrow 

I 159 ] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

That Angel strength grow theirs to- 
morrow ? — 
That Angel joy from Art's high heaven 
Shall every brother's sorrow leaven? 
Latter-day men, their God shut in them, 
Await transfiguring shall win them, 

Unveil them where their new might 
reigneth, — 

Might to wax strong when old might 

waneth. 
Like huddling waves their heads uprearing 
Darkly to dream of far light nearing. 
Like wistful waves for moonlight longing, — 
Range upon range the playhouse thronging, 
Men line with life floors, walls, to ceiling. 
And passive, wait their right revealing! 

As on black night, the storm-wrack rifting. 
Peace from the Moon's pure face falls 

drifting. 
So on Man's sea of ardors shifting 
Shine! Tragic Art, for Soul's upHftIng! 

[ i6o ] 



LIFE'S RHYMES 

** Through worlds and races and terms and times 
. . . musical order and pairing rhymes" 

FLUX 

**The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the Waters. 
. . And God said Let the Firmament divide the Waters 
from the Waters." 

1 HEAR Unending Being sing Life's 
rhymes! — 
The rhyme with centred Earth of weaving 

Water, 
Who vexed Her fixed frame, whose flux 
still caught Her; 
Her captive-captor was He tireless times: 

Her world-rule challenging from all worlds' 

primes, 
Island and headland carven firm He 

wrought her, 

[i6i] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

And trophies won for Her the while He 
fought Her: — 
So, in them, likeness with unlikeness chimes. 

Thrilled through their battling music, pangs 
of Fire 
From her pent heart! O Mystic breast of 
Birth, 
Ye only know wherefrom, — forever 
twinned. 
Swaying the concord of their world-desire 
With soaring rhythms, answering ardent 
Earth, — 
Played o'er his restless soul the wide- 
wing'd Wind! 



[162] 



LIFE'S RHYMES 



FORM 

* *Let the dry land appear. . . . Let there he lights in the 
heavens.'* 

Jl LAYED o'er his restless soul the wide- 
wing'd Wind: 
With stealthier pinion occult Motion 

stirred 
The smelted Earth and Water, smithy- 
slurred 
With seething wet, to structure crystallined. 

In flux like his the rock-floods rayed, and 
spinned 
Tow'rd centred hearts like hers: their 

World-child heard 
The parent rhyme and lived the molten 
word 
Whereto the twy-fold substance streamed 
akinned. 

[163] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

So Motion wooed through Form to finer pact, 
Till slow, instinctive Substance inly- 
yearned 
' For frame more shapely-rare, and sure 
troth-plight 
To ceaseless Motion, bodied forth in act 
The radiant Energy that in her burned: 
Responding realms of Comrade-worlds 
beamed Light! 



[164] 



LIFE'S RHYMES 



GROWTH 

**And God saith Let the Earth bring forth" 

Responding realms of Comrade-worlds 
beamed Light! — 
Quivered the dreaming eyelids of the Sea ! — • 
Startled Earth's brooding brow forebod- 
ingly 
As blindly brightened with dim seed of sight! 

And secret offspring quickened to the rite 
Of chrism in the sky-born sympathy: — 
The germ divined the force that bade it be, 

Felt, fold on fold within, replying might. 

It groped in slime, salt ooze, and weathered 
rock; 
And, climbing blankness, dared to face the 
sun, 

[165] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Sought for what rhyme with light plant- 
life pairs true: 
Of Earth the nursling root! Of Heaven the 
stock! — 
Vague Air'and steadfast Earth built up as 
one, 
O glad from singing Earth-mouths plant- 
life grew! 



[i66] 



LIFE'S RHYMES 



MOTIVE 

*'The moving creature that hath life let the Earth bring 
forthr 

vy GLAD from singing Earth-mouths plant- 
life grew! 
It thrived on fever spared the tortured soil, 
And from the bitter Waters' tossed turmoil 
Through all its fluting reed-throats sweet 
draughts drew. 

The growth alchemic leavened Nature 
through 
With vital ferment: Titan forest-spoil 
Stored Heaven-brought fire to serve yet 
unborn toil; 
Witch-working flotsam sought Life's next 
rhyme — You, — 

[167] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

O embryonic Will, your chemic leap 
In thirsty fibre-tip, in hungry sac, 

That burst Earth's mother-cord to fare 
alone, — 
In wine-dark caverns of the moorless Deep, 
Adventured forth marauding films to track 
The Life self-moved, enhungered for its 
own. 



[ i68] 



LIFE'S RHYMES 



DESIRE 

**Let us make man." 

X HE Life self-moved, enhungered for its 
own, 
Through strange shapes roamed, each rest- 
less want fulfilled. 
Divergence craved, and groped with bent 
instilled 
For sense more inward, in more free form 
thrown. 

Insatiate of types through ^Eons strown. 
The vortexed Life-fire, centred Earth- 
forms build. 
The windwinged Life-flow, weaving Water 
willed, 
Still seek the Heir to reap the seed-traits sown. 

[169] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Worm-shapes that wave-wise aim in nervous 
lines, 
Molluskan sphere-shapes massing inward 
force, 
Beast, fish, amphibian, insect, bird, — 
all deed 
To Life their fierce-fought functions and 
designs. 
Whose branching pattern and heaped-up 
resource 
For mastership empower'd a Man shall 
breed. 



[ 170] 



LIFE'S RHYMES 



POWER 

**And let him have dominion." 

Jr OR mastership empower'd a Man shall 
breed : 
Who must out-trap, out-toil, out-watch, 

out-lust 
His prowling, cunning, lusty brothers, must 
All wants that shaped them all out-do — or 
feed! 

So grows he, inchmeal, to attain and lead. 
Erect himself, like plant-life, from his dust 
Ensky his brain-fraught brow, and onward 
thrust 

In untried realms, and strain for spirit-speed. 

Yet out of violence and rapine whelped, 
Nor violence nor rapine can he spurn 
Whom ripening soul but slowly thrones 
above, 

[171] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

Whose every step was beast and body helped; 
Transcending ill by ills must he discern; — 
Till knowing Good from 111 he shall learn 
Lovel 



[ 172] 



LIFE'S RHYMES 



• LOVE 

*'Man is become as one of us to know good and evil 
. . . lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of 
life and live forever , . . he placed cheruhims and a flam- 
ing sword which turned every way to keep the way of the 
tree of life.'* — ''But . . . he that hath an ear^ let him 
hear what the Spirit saith: To him that overcometh will 
I give to eat of the tree of life." 

ILL knowing Good from 111 he shall learn 
Love; 
Through affluence of power, understand; 
Through inborn sympathies at last com- 
mand 
The wild and bestial wills he forced and 
drove. — 

Till all by which unwillingly he throve — 
Ay, occult energies of Sea and Land, 
Of Fire and Air come tuned to his hand 

To make the Music whither Being strove. 

[ 173] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

The gods of Love and Knowledge shall create 
In him; new life the breast of Death shall 
thrill: 
By like to unlike linked Life's Poem 
climbs, 
And leaps to Joy when Love and Power mate 
Incarnate in the sleepless human will. 
I hear Unending Being sing Life's 
Rhymes ! 



I 174 ] 



FAIRY GOLD 

A DIVINATION 

JL/IFE shall be richer in you more and more, 
And each New Year, far surer than before, 

The Soul in you shall find. 

Responsive to her sight. 

Resource of Heart and Mind — 

Her Treasure-trove of might 

That each Day's need had sought, 

With each new Sun divined. 

Full ready to be wrought! 

Her mystic rod of light 
Shall tremble and dip down to your pure ore. 
And show it waiting secretly and true, 
A mine of unsuspected gold in you! 
The sensitive witch-hazel of each sun, 

Sparkling the darkling mood. 
Shall find your Fairy Gold, and make it one 

With all your life holds good! 
[ 175 ] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

*' JL URN, Life, and face me! Under smiling 
masks 
You gleam, but you escape. Dares only 

Death, 
Dumb Death, front eager Man? True- 
touch me, Life, 
To hear your hidden mouth of melody, 
Your lips of music!" 



<c 



(C 



xu iiccii y 

6i 



Life stood before me, smiling masks torn off: 
Those stars, her eyes' were living wells of 

tears, 
The iron entered eating to her soul, 
And yet but moved her mouth to melody. 
Her lips to music. 

"Know, then," she said, "it only marks life 

true 
"When stars the brighter beckon under tears, 

[176] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

"When rapture wingeth passion up from pain, 
"And trembling souls move mouths to melody 
"And lips to music." 

Then, first I felt Life's force and staleless 

lure, 
And read the meaning lighted in her eyes. 
Her wine to hearten heroes feeds from 

wounds, 
And conquest moves her mouth to melody, 
Her lips to music. 

"Ay! Heed!" she said, — "No wound shall 

sap my founts 
"But they shall pour the heartening wine of 

Health, 
"Retrieval, Rescue, — feed the mastership 
Inspiriting all mouths to melody 
All lips to music. 



lllbpiilLiil 



ii 



Ci 



No wrong shall hurt my children, but shall 

spawn 
Delivering heroes; smite renewing wine 

[177] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

*'Out with the steel of harm to feast good 

will, 
"And wake the happy mouth to melody, 
"The lips to music." 

So, of her will to save the over-borne, — 

The stunted, pillaged, want-dogged, wing- 
hurt ones; 

Of joy she yearns to wrest — even from 
woe. 

Loud rang her prophet-mouth of melody, , 
Her lips of music. 



[178] 



RED DOORS 

1 AM the Lips of Man, — the Way of 
Breath; 

With form and strength I dower inmost 

things 
That own no substance, yet outweigh the 

World. 
The universal Elements, create 
And uncreate, were made for serving these 
Most strong weak things, whose spirit-path 

of will. 
Whose way of breath my living doors unfold. 

Through me the puny wail of new-born 
babe 
To world-cold naked, — through me God's 

Spirit — 
That breathes as Wind upon the Waters' face 
And quickens Universes into frame 
Unendingly, — push with the self-same pulse. 
The Portals of the Fire of Life am L 

[ 179] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

I wait upon each Word the Heirs of Life 
Shall seek to father as they Fathered were 
I serve the faltering tongue-tethered flame 
That flickers forth and faints in dull air out; 
I glow and thrill when rushing inward fire 
Springs like a seed and grows, unfurls, and 

spreads 
Out wings enkindled into flashing spires 
Of blossoms of the soaring human soul, 
Outclimbing Earth's deep-rooted firmament. 
Transcending range and thoroughfare of 

space. 
Companioning the reaches of the air, 
Where swaying seas and reeling spheres but 

swing 
For that the gladder up their azure steeps. 
The swifter in their spiral tow'rd the Sun, 
With subtler music, more harmonious trend. 
The Portals of the Fire of Song am I. 

The fire, like fire I harbor, I must seek. 
I open to the inward flow of fire 
Akin to outward streams I pour; that ebb 

[i8o] 



RED DOORS 

The body's life to flood its spirit-power; 
Till each renewed, returning throb of love 
From hidden founts, is quenchless as the Will 
Behind the ebb and flooding of the Sea, — 
The tidal sea-lips, wave-curved, all athirst, 
Forever in a tumult to kiss Earth, 
As my lips thirst to kiss the lips I love. 
The Portals of the Fire of Love am L 

The Life and Love I utter double force 
When anguish rends the deeps of Life and 

Love, 
And energies volcanic, fate-suppressed, 
Chastised and chastened, subtlest singing 

find. 
The nether fires pierce through the gloom to 

glow. 
The ashes stir with conquest, ember-red. 
The Portals of the Fire of Woe am I. 

Through me upwell the hidden gyres of 
grief: 

Sobs and psalms shake me through the dark 
of life: 

[i8i] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

I lift up Alleluias in Fate's face 

That shine like starry blossoms in Life's sun. 

I am the pain-wrung praying Mouth of 

Man — 
The bleeding lips that shout the hero's cry, 
From woe of Life and Loving wresting Joy. 
Red doors of Man's aspiring Soul am I, — 
The Portals of his Fire of Triumph, I! 



[182] 



THE DARK OF THE YEAR 

A CHRISTMAS-TIDE BENEDICTION 

VyUT of the measureless spaces, 
Out of the regions unshown, 

Beam on thee all the hid graces, 
Will of thy Spirit hath sown! 

Out of thy reticent powers. 

Out of thy hesitant will, 
Blossom the triumphing flowers. 

Dreaming desires in thee thrill! 

So from the germinant sources, 

Locked through the dark of the year. 

Gather in quietude, forces 

Bringing earth's blooming near. 

[183] 



LIPS OF MUSIC 

So from the Ages' long silence, 

Furling humanity's dearth, 
Sprang to bid darkness defiance, 

Bloom of man's spirit — Christ's birth. 




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